Velocipede



(NoModeL) A. H. OVERMAN.

VELOGIPEDE.

No. 406,461. Patented July 9, 1889..

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We es N. PETERS. Pholo-Liihcgraphnr, Washington, ac.

UNITED STATES PATENT -OFFICE.

ALBERT H. OVERMAN, OF NEWTON, ASSIGNOR TO' THE OVERMAN WVHEEL COMPANY, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

VELOCIPEDE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 406,461, dated July 9, 1889.

Application filed May 17, 1889. Serial No. 311,171. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern: short tube I, forming a carrier for it, and rig- Be it known that I, ALBERT H. OVERMAN, idly connected with the forward end of the residing at Newton, in the county of Suffolk fork J of the wheel F and located in the same and State of Massachusetts, have invented horizontal plane therewith. The said sleeve certain new and useful Improvements in Veis split and provided with lugs K K, carrying locipedes; and I do declare the following to a clamping-bolt L, wherebyit is clamped upon be a full, clear, and exact description of the the tube after being brought into right posi same, reference being had to the accompanytion'thereupon. The stem is also provided ing drawings, which form a part of this speciwith holes M M, (see Fig. 3,) to receive a coup- 1O fication. ling-bolt N, having a nut 0, (see Fig. 7,) and My invention relates to an improvement in passing transversely through the tube, which velocipedes of that class which employ a chain is provided with elongated horizontal slots P for transmitting the power from the crank- P (see Figs. 2 and 4) to receive it. These slots shaft to the driving-wheel, the object being to receive the opposite ends of a sliding block Q,

15 provide improved means for regulating the located within the tube, having two wearingtension of the chain. faces R B, respectively, playing against the With these ends in view my invention conupper and lower or side walls of the elongated sists in certain details of construction and slots, and a longitudinal opening S to receive combinations of parts, as will be hereinafter the bolt N, which couples the hanger to the 20 described, and pointed out in the claims. tube, and hence to the fork J, forming a part In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is of the frame of the vehicle, with which it is a broken plan view showing the rear fork of joined by the upright post T, as shown. The the vehicle-frame, the crank-shaft, the hanger hanger is drawn forward upon the tube to therefor, and the driving-chain of a rear-drivtighten the chain by means of an adj usting- 2 5 ing bicycle embodying my invention. Fig. 2 bolt U, located within the carrying-tube, and is an enlarged view of the tension-regulating provided at its rear end with an eye U, conmechanism, the same being shown partly in forming in its internal profile to the external vertical section on the line a b of Fig. 1 and profile of the sliding, block which passes partly in elevation. Fig. 3 is a detached view, through it. The forward and threaded end 0 on the scale of Fig. 1, in front elevation, of of this bolt projects beyond the outer end of the crank-shank hanger, the crank-shaft, and the tube and carries an adjusting-'nutV, which the sprocket-wheel. Fig. 4is adetached broken works against a disk WV, forming a point of view in side elevation of the slotted tube which purchase for it placed against the outer end carries the shaft-hanger. Fig. 5 isa detached of the tube and centrally perforated for the 3 5 perspective view of the sliding block. Fig. 6 passage of the bolt through it.

is a detached View in side elevation of the ad- WVhen the driving-chain, through wear or .1 j usting screw and nut, and Fig. 7 is a similar from any other cause, departs from that ten- 1 view of the coupling-bolt and its nut. sion at which it is desirable to keep it, the j,

As herein shown, the crank-shaft A is proclamping-bolt is loosened and the adjusting 4o vided withasprocket-wheel B, carryinga drivnut turned to move the hanger on the tube '90 ing-chain C, also running overasmallersprockand away from the driving-axle, whereby the et-wheel' (concealed by the chain) mounted chain is restored to its right tension, after upon the axle E of the driving-wheel F, aporwhich the sleeve is clamped on the tube again. tion whereof is broken away, the tension of The sliding block takes the strain which 45 the said chain being regulated by moving the would otherwise be thrown on the couplingcrank-shaft and its sprocket-wheel toward and bolt, and by preventing the wear of this bolt away from the axle E and its sprocket-wheel. and the walls of the slot in the tube preserves To this end the crank-shaft is mounted in the the integrity of the machine for the purposes arms G G of a hanger having a sleeve H, of regulating the tension of the chain.

50 adapting it to be adj ustably mounted upon a Having fully described myinventiomwhatl I00 claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a velocipede, the combination, with the crank-shaft and a driving-chain, of a hanger in which the shaft is mounted, a slotted car rier rigidly connected with the frame of the Vehicle and having the hanger movably mounted upon it, a sliding block extending transversely through the carrier and located in the slots thereof, a coupling-bolt extending through the hanger, block, and carrier and an adjusting-bolt connected with the said block and operated for moving the hanger on the carrier to regulate the tension of the chain, substantially as set forth.

2. In a Velocipede, the combination, with the crank-shaft and a driving-chain, of a crankshaft hanger provided with a split sleeve furnished with a clamping-bolt, a carrier rigidly connected with the frame of the machine and having two elongated horizontal slots, at sliding block located in the said slots and having flat bearing-faces engaging with the side walls thereof, a coupling-bolt passing transversely through the hanger, the carrier, and theblock, an adjusting-bolt connected with the sliding block and projecting out of the carrier, a nut located on the outer end of the bolt, and a perforated disk placed over the end of the carrier and forming a point of purchase for the nut substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ALBERT H. OVERMAN.

\Vitnesses:

LUTHER WHITE, \V. L. BLACKMER. 

